Ron Paul: The Trouble with FEMA

Transcript

Neil Cavuto: Look, they might ultimately do a good job, but we thought it was a little early to do the back-slapping when a lot of their constituents were doing the finger-raising. On the phone with us now is Texas Congressman, Ron Paul. Congressman, I had your colleague from Pennsylvania saying, “Give FEMA another 14 million dollars right now even if you have to go into debt to pay for it”. What say you?

Ron Paul: I think that’s a bad idea. When is it going to stop, where is the limit? And, evidently, there are no limits, they’re already 18 million dollars in debt, and they’ll spend another 14 million dollars for a program that causes people to do dumb things. I mean, this is why people build on the beaches and on the coasts, because the market doesn’t provide insurance for them, but the government does. So people who don’t get to build nice houses on the beach, have to pay for the rebuilding of it. It’s a terrible program, and I’ve had this position for a long time, and I get many, many times more calls complaining about FEMA than I ever get complaining about my position on FEMA. So it’s never hurt me politically and the people aren’t even with this. But I have to say, though, that when the trouble hits, we have this program and I try to make these things work, but, quite frankly, they can’t work. They’re just going to help drive us into bankruptcy and all this will have to end.

Neil Cavuto: You know, – I know you risk it, and I admire you for that – you always look cruel when you say no to FEMA because you know a thing or two about FEMA’s track record. And, even now, I’m worried for people on the scene and folks in Stanton Island, New York beleaguered borough over there where they keep saying, “Help is on the way, help is on the way”. FEMA’s there, but water bottles aren’t there, basic creature comforts aren’t there, the basic supplies they needed were delayed. And if it weren’t for private funding efforts and the likes of Wal-Mart getting involved, as much as that retailer did after Katrina, there would be no help there. But now we’re getting word, Congressman, from FEMA administrator, Craig Fugate, that, “More than 210 million dollars has been approved for individuals to assist with housing and other disaster related needs”. The problem with that money seems to be that it’s not immediately dispersed, you can approve it, but it doesn’t mean it gets into the hands of those affected right away, it could be weeks or month, right?

Ron Paul: Yes, and that’s when their congressman will be called and that’s when we will get our calls and people would beg and plead. They’d been told that they paid their flood insurance, so they ask when are they going to get the relief. And it’s very, very difficult, it’s bureaucratic, it’s very, very slow, it’s very inefficient. And, you know, when the private companies have insurance, I think they do get the checks to the people much, much quicker. But FEMA is an obstacle, it gets in the way of local authority. For the first 200 years of our history, the federal government was never involved in natural disasters. And after Katrina, you think the people and the government and the politicians would wake up and say, “Maybe this isn’t the best way to do things”. But no, it continues in the same way, we never change our way. And none of this is going to end until we declare our bankruptcy and admit that we don’t have any money. And the congressman that casually said “14 billion dollars is no big deal”, well, where does he think it comes from, it comes from poor people. Because, if you borrow it, they’re indebted; if you don’t borrow it and you print it, they get the inflation, or you get the business cycle and they end up without their jobs. And they think it’s for free? They have to wake up and see that everything costs something, every time the government spends money, it is a cost and a tax and it comes back and, unfortunately, it hits the middle class more than anybody else, especially the low/middle income class who try to survive. They suffer the most with all these programs, even with this pretence that they’re going to take care of us forever.

Neil Cavuto: Well, you know, you always look cruel if you oppose it, but then you just say the track-record is such … it’s like these telephones and everything they do. You know their heart’s always in the right place, but if Haiti got a fraction of the money that was pledged to it after the earthquakes and disasters, it would look like Atlantis right now.

I dont care for Gary Johnson.. I WANT THIS MAN IN THE OFFICE~
And I want us African Americans and whites and people of all races and religions 2 WAKE UP and START A REVOLUTION... END THE FED.. TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY..
peace~

And stop saying we are fucked. Yes, you are fucked if you don't make an effort. I didn't hear "we are fucked" from no one years ago. They fought for theirs, but this is what I read today. "we are fucked" = voluntary modern day slavery. Use your head and do something! Become active in any way possible! If you know about it, make an effort for your freedoms and others and don't always look for a one man savior. Ron is the best we've had in a long time, but we can't wait for election years. No time

Hm see that i don't understand because Romney has proved to be the biggest flip flopper EVER(upon many other things that wont fit into one comment) I think Romney is a step down plus he would block Ron Paul in 2016 since republican is all he wants to run as :l Mmm well does your brother know Romney wants to use "Force" on IRAN when Iran hasn't done anything wrong other than Piss off some Israelis? I dont want either to win but as long as romney loses that's a small victory in my eyes

We need you stupid ass Paultards to vote for Honest Mitt Romney today! Ron Paul is a traitor and a coward that supports terrorism against the USA. Ron Paul was a DRAFT DODGER who refused to serve his Country. Mitt Romney is a hero to many Mormons. We love Mitt Romney and hate Ron Paul. Mitt is very wealthy and a Mormon so you PaulTards owe Mitt your vote. Romney 2012.

Yes, I've heard of him and I even watched some of the third party debate. I've heard they need 5% of the vote to get funding which I hope he does get. I actually decided on Saturday that I would vote for Romney mainly because we can't get much worse than Obama plus my brother in the army wants a change of presidents.

so you would rather have a couple of corrupt "younger" guys who dont do anything you want instead of someone who is "too old" (according to you) but will do everything this country needs... hmm lets see, apparently people are too stupid to make the correct choice. we will have another 4 years of obama and that will hopefully wake more people up.

so you would rather have a couple of corrupt "younger" guys who dont do anything you want instead of someone who is "too old" (according to you) but will do everything this country needs... hmm lets see, apparently people are too stupid to make the correct choice. we will have another 4 years of obama and that will hopefully wake more people up.

Well, it's obvious that either Obama or Romney is going to be the next president. Romney is more pro gun than Obama and I believe that's a big issue. Plus I lean more Republican than Democrat. Ron Paul would be my first choice though.

Well, it's obvious that either Obama or Romney is going to be the next president. Romney is more pro gun than Obama and I believe that's a big issue. Plus I lean more Republican than Democrat. Ron Paul would be my first choice though.

Disclaimer

RonPaul.com is maintained by independent grassroots supporters of Ron Paul. Neither this website nor the articles, posts, videos or photos appearing on it are paid for, approved, endorsed or reviewed by Ron Paul or his staff.